Cadet trials over reactions

[Truzzcat]

Is Sammy sanchez a factor at 57kg by 2028? (lean here is hes not good enough to go with Luke or Spencer but he could be better than knox and co by then)

Is Jayden James a factor at 74kg by 2028? (as @Wrasslin pointed out there still appears to be a gap between him and Dee and I would imagine there is a gap between Dee and carr/MM so I am going to say a factor in the sense that hes there and gives guys tough matches but not making a team.)

[GrandOlm]

On 8/3/2025 at 6:23 PM, Truzzcat said:

Is Sammy sanchez a factor at 57kg by 2028? (lean here is hes not good enough to go with Luke or Spencer but he could be better than knox and co by then)

Is Jayden James a factor at 74kg by 2028? (as @Wrasslin pointed out there still appears to be a gap between him and Dee and I would imagine there is a gap between Dee and carr/MM so I am going to say a factor in the sense that hes there and gives guys tough matches but not making a team.)

You never really know for sure, until they start beating senior world medalists. 

Look at Amos. Double medaled at juniors and struggled with his college career. Internationally is a punching bag for the top Greco wrestlers whenever he makes a world team. I don't even know if that Russian greco wrestler (who beat Amos in his junior medal run) is even involved with the sport anymore. Haven't seen him anywhere either. 

 

[Wrasslin]

On 8/3/2025 at 4:23 PM, Truzzcat said:

Is Sammy sanchez a factor at 57kg by 2028? (lean here is hes not good enough to go with Luke or Spencer but he could be better than knox and co by then)

Is Jayden James a factor at 74kg by 2028? (as @Wrasslin pointed out there still appears to be a gap between him and Dee and I would imagine there is a gap between Dee and carr/MM so I am going to say a factor in the sense that hes there and gives guys tough matches but not making a team.)

I don't think it's hyperbole. A few years I'd have said "No", but times have changed. Watching Forrest and Duke makes me think Sanchez and James can achieve the same- talent is there and the exposure young wrestlers have these days is just insane. If this were Japan, both would likely be seen as too old to complete in 2028.  That being said:

By 2028 cycle, Sanchez will be a senior in high school (a la Duke), so won't have the benefit of a year of college under his belt (Lilledahl got teched 10-0 fast by Lee as a senior and improved a bunch in his year of college). However, I fully expect Sanchez to be the first ever undefeated, 4x CA State champion (never been done). If there is a weight to be competitive at the next level, it's 57kg. Lee is Lee, and Lilledahl is world class, but in 3 years Sanchez will have grown into the weight and will be competitive. I'm tempted to take Sanchez over Liam Cronin (our #3) right now. haha!

With James, Lockett (who's pretty good) outweighed him but also outwrestled him- I felt like Lockett was out to prove a point. While there's a gap between MM/Carr and James now, good news for James is that by 2028, he'll know exactly where he stacks up (being in the same room with Penn St. guys). He's got the talent to compete in this next Olympic cycle.

[Truzzcat]

50 minutes ago, Wrasslin said:

I don't think it's hyperbole. A few years I'd have said "No", but times have changed. Watching Forrest and Duke makes me think Sanchez and James can achieve the same- talent is there and the exposure young wrestlers have these days is just insane. If this were Japan, both would likely be seen as too old to complete in 2028.  That being said:

By 2028 cycle, Sanchez will be a senior in high school (a la Duke), so won't have the benefit of a year of college under his belt (Lilledahl got teched 10-0 fast by Lee as a senior and improved a bunch in his year of college). However, I fully expect Sanchez to be the first ever undefeated, 4x CA State champion (never been done). If there is a weight to be competitive at the next level, it's 57kg. Lee is Lee, and Lilledahl is world class, but in 3 years Sanchez will have grown into the weight and will be competitive. I'm tempted to take Sanchez over Liam Cronin (our #3) right now. haha!

With James, Lockett (who's pretty good) outweighed him but also outwrestled him- I felt like Lockett was out to prove a point. While there's a gap between MM/Carr and James now, good news for James is that by 2028, he'll know exactly where he stacks up (being in the same room with Penn St. guys). He's got the talent to compete in this next Olympic cycle.

Part of the reason I am a bit more bullish on sammy is because I think our 1,2 at 57kg could have some issues that make the sub optimal by 2028. Now I hope that is not the case because I want the best possible team, however I think Lee's injury history likely makes him age a bit differently than most guys at 29 and I really think its going to be a tough pull for Luke by 2028. That being said Sammy is not my pick and I hope he is not our rep because I think that would likely mean the other two guys are compromised but I think there is a world where he is very competitive with those guys for the reasons I mentioned above.

[ScottishSteel]

13 hours ago, GrandOlm said:

You never really know for sure, until they start beating senior world medalists. 

Look at Amos. Double medaled at juniors and struggled with his college career. Internationally is a punching bag for the top Greco wrestlers whenever he makes a world team. I don't even know if that Russian greco wrestler (who beat Amos in his junior medal run) is even involved with the sport anymore. Haven't seen him anywhere either. 

 

I blame Bono for the Amos stuff; never should have been 197 - let him eat and be a heavyweight and I bet he's got much better results.

[bnwtwg]

11 minutes ago, ScottishSteel said:

I blame Bono for the Amos stuff

We all do. He should have gone anywhere but Wiscy. Here's to hoping he can bounce back and have a fantastic senior career.

[MPhillips]

9 minutes ago, ScottishSteel said:

I blame Bono for the Amos stuff; never should have been 197 - let him eat and be a heavyweight and I bet he's got much better results.

Amos should have went somewhere else after that first season. Hillger and covid didn't help Amos any.

[ScottishSteel]

1 hour ago, bnwtwg said:

We all do. He should have gone anywhere but Wiscy. Here's to hoping he can bounce back and have a fantastic senior career.

He should still have 2 years of eligibility no?

[MPhillips]

6 minutes ago, ScottishSteel said:

He should still have 2 years of eligibility no?

RS Junior I believe...

[nhs67]

58 minutes ago, MPhillips said:

RS Junior I believe...

So he had his Oly-Shirt in 2024.  Curious if he could use a medical for 2025 and use an actual redshirt as well - if needed.

[ionel]

11 minutes ago, nhs67 said:

So he had his Oly-Shirt in 2024.  Curious if he could use a medical for 2025 and use an actual redshirt as well - if needed.

55 & 4 rule ... let's get on it!